What the four nations actually allow
Animal welfare is devolved, and since 2023 the four nations have genuinely
diverged. This is the same practice compared across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland, with the primary source and a last-checked date against every cell.
Last reviewed 25 August 2026; the oldest cell on this page was last checked against its primary source on
22 August 2026. Every cell carries its own date and source below.
Data: /api/law.json.
This is a description of the
law, not legal advice. Every row links to the primary source and carries the date it
was last checked. Check the source before relying on it — general licences are reissued
each January and commencement dates move.
Companion animals
England has required every cat over 20 weeks old to be microchipped and registered on a compliant database since 10 June 2024. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland require microchipping for dogs but not for cats.
England
Banned, with exceptions
- In force from
- 10 June 2024
- Instrument
- Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023, regulations 3 and 4
Regulation 3 requires the keeper of a cat older than 20 weeks to have it microchipped and the keeper's contact details recorded on a compliant database. The provisions relating to cats came into force on 10 June 2024. Regulation 4 disapplies the duty for as long as a veterinary surgeon certifies, on a form approved by the Secretary of State, that the cat should not be microchipped for reasons relating to its health. The same regulations carry the dog requirement and revoked the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015.
legislation.gov.uk
· checked 25 August 2026
Wales
Not prohibited
- In force from
- not recorded
- Instrument
- no instrument recorded
Microchipping a cat is not required in Wales. Welsh Government guidance says that while "not currently compulsory in Wales, it is good practice for all responsible owners to get their cats microchipped". Dogs must be microchipped under the Microchipping of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2015.
GOV.WALES
· checked 25 August 2026
Scotland
Not prohibited
- In force from
- not recorded
- Instrument
- no instrument recorded
Microchipping a cat is not required in Scotland. Dogs must be microchipped under the Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016. The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has recommended that Scottish Ministers introduce compulsory microchipping and registration of owned cats; no legislation following that recommendation has been identified.
Scottish Animal Welfare Commission
· checked 25 August 2026
Northern Ireland
Not prohibited
- In force from
- not recorded
- Instrument
- no instrument recorded
Microchipping a cat is not required in Northern Ireland. Dogs must be microchipped before a dog licence can be issued, under the Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012.
nidirect
· checked 25 August 2026
How to read this
Status describes the position today. Anything proposed, consulted on or before a
legislature is shown separately as a proposed change, and is never counted as law.
“Not recorded” means not recorded. Where a commencement date or an
instrument has not been confirmed against a primary source, the cell says so rather than
estimating.
Data: /api/law.json. Corrections with a primary
source are welcome — a wrong cell here is worse than a missing one.